VIOLA

Nate Bliton plays the viola and loves making recordings of wonderful music. While he holds M.M. and B.M. degrees in Music Composition from Michigan State University from his first two rounds of secondary education, he is escalating upon an old hobby with one more pass as a post-baccalaureate student in Computer Science at University of Colorado Boulder. In his spare time when not practicing Viola (of course), rollerblading as much as he can (which is invariably the best recreation), or playing with (feeding) his cats Rex and Olive, he works on software at Roosevelt Innovations in Michigan.

Clayton Bridgeman is a violist from Cape Girardeau, MO; student of Dr. Sophia Han. He graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy, was the winner of the Southeast Concerto and Aria Competition, Winner of the Missouri state-level as well as the West Central Regional level of the MTNA young artist competition and also was a national finalist in the MTNA young artist competition.

Sarah Cornish excitedly fell in love with the viola at the age of 9, and she continues to love her instrument and sharing music 25 years later. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she has made her way south to Norman, OK continuing to perform with numerous local musicians. Sarah is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University with a degree in Music Performance and she is also a band member of MAKS The Fox back in Chicago, IL with 2 recorded albums. Currently an Administrative Assistant by day, Sarah is also a freelance musician performing as principal violist with the OU Civic Orchestra and the OU Civic String Quartet.

Dr. Dilek Engin Stolarchuk is from Istanbul, Turkey and has been playing with TFO since 2014. Dr. Engin earned her B.A. Degree from Istanbul University State Conservatory and her MM from Marshall University. She is currently the String Department Chair at the Flint School of Performing Arts in Flint, Michigan, where she also serves as a Violin/Viola instructor. She teaches the Summer Fun with Strings at FSPA, and is the conductor of the Mason Philharmonic/Youth Orchestra. Dr. Engin is an active performer, teacher and multiple instrumentalist. She lives in East Lansing, MI with her lovely husband, bass trombonist Stefan Stolarchuk. Together, they spend their time trying to make viola and bass trombone duets a thing. Currently, Dr. Engin performs with Midland, Flint, Saginaw Bay, Jackson, Alma, Rochester, Lansing, Holland, Southwest Michigan, International, Adrian, and Oakland Symphonies in Michigan, and the Toledo Symphony in Ohio during the performance season, as assisting viola principal and section player.

Danielle Whipple is a meteorologist from Norman, OK, where she lives with her husband, two kids, a dog, and a turtle. She plays viola for OU Civic Orchestra, and piano with whoever is interested. In addition to music, her interests include: knitting and crochet, board games/video games, looking at the clouds, and pollinator gardening.

Kahauri Brown-Givens is a Chicago IL/Normal IL based cellist whose focus is on solo and chamber music. Kahauri has done solo and orchestra since the 4th grade which is when they started. Notable pieces they’ve played are Saint-Sean’s whole cello concerto at a freshman recital, and Dvorak Piano Quintet. Kahauri lead their high school’s cello section for 3 years, and is currently sitting 3rd chair in their college level orchestra.

Amy Fear is the Director of Orchestras for Blue Valley High School. She is a graduate of Wichita State University with a Bachelor in cello performance and Masters with string pedagogy emphasis. Amy is a contributing author for the GIA publications “Teaching Music through Performance in Orchestra” Vol. 1 & 2. An active performer, she performs in local and regional orchestras, including the Westwood Ensemble and Taneycomo Festival Orchestra. Outside the field of music education she loves cooking, traveling to ride new mountain bike trails and is a regional referee for USA Cycling.

A Texas native, cellist Daron Kirsch is immediately available for booking as a performer and educator, and has lost count of what year this is at TFO! He currently resides in Cincinnati with his girlfriend Alex (she’s in the clarinets!) and their small-but-mighty cadre of pets. Between days off, he manages a violin rental shop serving nearly 3,000 students per year.

Paris Roake is a cellist and teacher in the Bloomington-Normal area. Currently, they are pursuing their Bachelors of Music Education at Illinois State University and are about to student teach in the Fall of 2023. Outside of performing, learning and teaching, Paris enjoys all things outdoors, crafting, and going to concerts.

Jiayi Qin began her musical studies at age eight with cello lessons. Currently pursuing degree in music performance at Biola University. During her time at Biola, Jiayi studied under Marlin Owen, Hannah Holman and Laszlo Mezo. Jiayi is currently the cello principal of the Biola Symphony Orchestra.

Elise Thierbach is a student at Missouri State University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics. She plays in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, the Missouri State University Symphony, and a variety of other ensembles at MSU. This is Elise’s second year at TFO, and she is so happy to be back making music in Branson! Elise grew up in Marthasville, Missouri where her family owns and operates Thierbach Orchards and Berry Farm, and in her free time she enjoys cooking, spending time with her friends, and being outdoors!

Daniel Yung grew up in Kansas City where he started playing piano, cello, guitar, percussion, bass, and whatever else he could get his hands on. He has been part of orchestras, bands, and choirs of all varieties both in and outside of the classical world. He went to Truman State University to get his BM in Cello and BA in Piano then returned to Kansas City where he earned his MM in Cello Performance. Since then, Mr. Yung has been working as the accompanist of choirs for Pleasant Hill Middle and High School as well as freelancing and teaching on the side. Lately, he has been involved with groups such as the Westwood Ensemble, the Midwest Chamber Ensemble, a low string trio (No Treble), an indie folk rock band (Times and Places), as well as a jazz combo (Legerdemain).